Clasp



C. R. TOST April 11, 1939.

CLASP Filed April ll, 1938 Patented Apr. 11, 1939 PATENT GFQEQ CLASP Charles R. Tost, Cranston, R. I., assigner to The Hadley Company, Inc., Providence, B. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application April 11, 1938, Serial No` 201,297

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in ciasps and more particularly in clasps of the type set forth in my Patent No. 2,086,450, dated July 6, i937, wherein are provided safety catches so f. designed that each must be separately released but, upon the closing of one catch, the other catch is automatically closed and so held until the first-named catch is released.

The primary object of this invention resides lo in the provision in a clasp of that type of releasable means forholding the locking means against involuntary release and insuring the closure of the clasp. Further objects of the invention reside in structural details of the various elements and in the provision of a clasp of the .above type which possesses simplicity in design and a plea-S- ing appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent from a consideration of the following description of one embodiment of the invention and accompanying the drawing which forms a part thereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a br cket provided with a closed clasp embodying this invention, a portion thereof being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of such bracket;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the clasp in the fully open position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the clasp in an intermediate position; and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are isometric views of certain units of the clasp, a portion or the unit illustrated in Fig. 8 being removed.

The clasp 20 is illustrated in Figs. l and 2 in locking engagement with a coupling element, as for example an eye 2l. The eye 2i may be of l0 any desired construction and, .as here shown, in-

cludes a bar 22 supported at each end.

The clasp 2 is a substantially hollow member formed by an upper plate 25 and a lower plate 25. The upper plate 25 forms the top wall Si? of the clasp member, and the side walls 3| thereof the lower ends of which are bent inwardly to provide flanges 32 which form a portion of the bottom wall of the clasp member. From the lower edges of the side walls extend inwardly tongues 5o 33 spaced from the flanges 32. In the top wall 36 are formed .a'traversely extending slot 34 and a slot 35 which extends longitudinally from the inner edge. The side walls 3l extend inwardly beyond the inner edge or" the top wall and are 55 provided with notches 35 in the upper edges thereof which define a recess adapted to receive the bar 22 of the eye 2 as shown in Fig. 5. The flanges 32 similarly extend inwardly .and support a spring-friction plate 31, the ends of which are v, bent downwardly about the opposite ends of the 5 flanges to hold the plate in position. In one of the side walls is formed an aperture 38 and in the other side wall is formed a boss 39.

The lower plate 26 is pivotally secured to the g n side walls of the upper plate and constitutes sub- 10 stantially the remainder of the bottom wall of the clasp member. At the inner end of the plate 2E is formed a notch 4B which, as shown in Fig. 5, registers with the slot 34 in the top wall. At the inner end of the plate is provided an upwardly 16 extending tongue H having a notch in one edge thereof which receives the boss 3? and thus removably positions the plate 26 (see Fig. 8).

Slidably movable on the spring-friction plate 31 within the clasp member is a primary catch 20 55. The catch includes at its inner end an upper central nose 46 which enters the slot 35 and a pair of feet 4l, and at its outer end a cam surface 48 disposed at an angle to its line of travel. The nose t5 and feet 41 define a recess for a pur- 25 pose to be set forth below, and the upper surface of the nose is knurled to provide a finger piece.

As shown in the drawing, particularly in Fig. 6, the primary catch i5 is a single integral element, but it may, if desired, be made of several ele- 30 ments.

A secondary catch 50 is pivotally supported between the side walls 3l upon a pintle 5I. This catchincludes a spring plate 52, one end of which is bent downwardly and terminates in a sleeve 53 35 through which the pintle 5l is passed. At the free end of the plate '52 is provided a downwardly bent finger 5t which is adapted to enter the slot 34 and engage the cam surface it of the catch t5.

When the clasp is closed, plate E2 of the sec- 40 ondary catch extends over and conceals the inner end of the top wall Sil and engages the nose 45 of the primary catch l5 by which it is slightly flexed. The secondary catch 553 is releasably secured in such position by locking means which 45 engage an aperture in the nger 54. Such locking means comprise a latch 5% pivotally supported in a housing 5l. The housing 5l is U- shaped in cross-section, the inner wall being cut away to provide a notch 58 through which the 50 y nose 553 of the latch projects and a notch Si) for the inger 3l of the latch.l A spring S2 acts to hold the latch normally in the operative position shown in the drawing. The housing 5l is mounted in the upper plate 25 between the side 55 walls 3| and rests upon the tongues 33. Further positioning of the housing 51 is provided by tabs 33 which project downwardly from the base of the housing. The nger 6| of the latch projects through the aperture 38 in the upper plate and is thus readily accessible from outside the clasp.

When both catches are in the open position, the bar 22 of the eye 2l is placed in the recess defined by the notches 36, as shown in Fig. 5. The secondary catch is then swung downwardly on the pintle 5| until it is closed, as shown in Fig. 3. The finger 54 of the cacth 50, after entering the slot 34, bears against the cam surface 48 of the primary catch 45, causing it to advance until the bar 22 is received in the recess at the inner end thereof, the nose 46 being over and the feet 4'! being below the bar so that the bar is locked to the clasp. Thereupon the latch 56 enters the slot in the finger 54 of the secondary catch and holds it in the locking position. Both catches are thus secured and any unwanted or involuntary opening of the clasp and release of the bar is prevented. When the latch is released by the application of pressure upon the nger 6l, the catch 50 will spring open due to the flexing caused by its contact with the upper surface of the nose 46. The primary catch 45 will not, however, be affected by the release of the secondary catch but will remain in the locking position by the action of the spring-friction plate 37 until it is positively moved out of that position by the application of a retractive impulse to the now exposed nose 45. Hence, even though the linger @i should be inadvertently tripped to release the second catch, the bar 22 would still be secured to the clasp and would not separate therefrom.

While the clasp is shown associated with an eye, both clasp and eye being enlarged at the outer ends so that they receive and are secured to the ends of straps and 66, which may support a wristwatch or the like (not shown), it will be understood that the invention herein relates to the structure and function of the clasp per se and is not limited to the embodiment and use here shown, and that other embodiments and uses may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A clasp adapted to engage and releasably hold an eye or other coupling element, comprising a body member having a recess therein in which the coupling element is received, a primary catch slidable in said body member and provided with a nose which in the locking position of the catch holds the coupling element in the recess of the body member, a secondary catch which, as it approaches the locking position, contacts with and slides the primary catch into locking position and upon reaching its locking position holds said primary catch in its locking position, and releasable holding means for securing said secondary catch in its locking position, said holding means including interengaging parts carried by said second catch and body member, said parts being relatively movable to eiect disengagement thereof, thereby to release said holding means.

2. A clasp adapted to engage and releasably hold an eye or other coupling element, comprising a body member having a recess therein in which the coupling element is received, a primary catch slidable in said body member and provided with a nose which in the locking position of the catch holds the coupling element in the recess of the body member, a secondary catch which, as it approaches the locking position, contacts with and slides the primary catch into locking position and upon reaching its locking position holds said primary catch in its locking position, and a latch for securing said secondary catch in such locking position, which latch is mounted within the body member or" the clasp and includes a nger accessible from outside said body member by which said latch is actuated to release said secondary catch.

3. A clasp adapted to engage and releasably hold an eye or other coupling element, comprising a body member having a recess therein in which the coupling element is received, a primary catch slidable in said body member and provided with a nose which in the locking position of the catch holds the coupling element in the recess of the body member, a secondary catch which, as it approaches the locking position, contacts with and slides the primary catch into locking position and upon reaching its locking position holds said primary catch in its locking position, said secondary catch comprising a spring plate and a finger at one end thereof, which finger contacts with said primary catch and slides it into locking position and a latch which engages said finger and holds the secondary catch in locking position, the plate of said secondary catch engaging and being tensioned by the nose of the primary catch whereby upon release oi the latch the secondary catch moves out of the locking position.

4. A clasp adapted to engage and releasably hold an eye or other coupling element, comprising a body member having a recess therein in which the coupling element is received, a primary catch slidable in said body member and provided with a nose which in the locking position of the catch holds the coupling element in the recess of the body member, a secondary catch which, as it approaches the locking position, contacts with and slides the primary catch into locking position and upon reaching its locking position holds said primary catch in its locking position, said primary catch including a cam surface, and said secondary catch including a nger which, as the catch is closed, bears upon such cam surface and causes said primary catch to slide into the locking position, and a releasable latch which engages said finger to hold the secondary catch in the locking position, said latch being mounted within the body member of the clasp and including a nger accessible from outside said body member by which said latch is actuated to release said secondary catch.

5. A clasp adapted to engage and releasably hold an eye or other coupling element, comprising a body member having a recess therein in which the coupling element is received, a primary catch slidable in said body member and provided with a nose which in the locking position of the catch holds the coupling element in the recess of the body member, a secondary catch which, as it approaches the locking position, contacts with and slides the primary catch into locking position and upon reaching its locking position holds said primary catch in its locking position, said body member having a slot therein, and said secondary catch including a depending finger which, as the catch approaches its locking position, ent/ers the slot in the body member and slides the primary catch into its locking position, said finger having a slot therein and a latch mounted within said body member which latch, after the linger has slid the primary catch, enters the slot therein and thereby holds the secondary catch in its locking position.

6. A clasp adapted to engage and releasably hold an eye or other coupling element, comprising a body member having a recess therein in which the coupling element is received, a primary catch slidable Within said body member and provided with a nose which in the locking position of the catch holds the coupling element in the recess of the body member, a secondary catch which comprises a spring plate and a finger depending therefrom, said plate, when the secondary catch is in locking position, bearing upon the nose of the primary catch and being flexed slightly thereby and a latch for engaging the nger and holding the secondary catch in locking position with the plate exed.

'7. A clasp comprising a body member having a slot formed therein to receive a coupling member, a slide member carried by the body member and movable relative thereto for closing and. opening the slot, slide-holding means engageable with the slide member for holding the same in its slotclosing position but disengageable from the slide member to allow movement thereof to open the slot, means acting on the slide-holding means, when in engagement with the slide member, tending to effect disengagement thereof, and a releasable latch device carried by the body member and operative to lock the slide-holding means in engagement with the slide member.

CHARLES R. TOST. 

